De leo v



July 6, 1926. 1,591,646

DE LEO v. SCHAEFER ELECTRIGA'. LOCK SWITCH FiIQdJune b, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a i .2 v w #5 s 3 as 16 /6 July 6 1926. 1,591,646

DE LEO v. SCHAEFER ELECTRICAL LOCK SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet P Filed June 5, 1925 H JELE'O gvwvntom Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL LOCK SWITCH.

Application filed June 5,'

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electrical lock switches, particularly adapted for use in the electric system of a motor vehicle for various purposes, such as for preventing unauthorized use of the vehicle, reducing the liability of fire from short circuiting when the vehicle is not in use, etc. a

The primary object of the invention is to provide a switch of the above kind adapted to be interposed in the feed cable of the vehicle battery and so constructed asto be eilective in operation.

Another object is to provide a switch of the above kind which is comparatively simple and durable in construction and which may be produced at a relatively low cost. 1

Another object is to provide means for connecting the feed cable to the switch so that the same may not be readily disconnected.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1c is. a top plan view of a lock switch constructed in accordance with the present invention, 1

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially upon line 2-2of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the cover plate removed, and partlyin section, a l v Figure 4: is a plan view of one of the disks which prevent operation of the switch by keys having other than a predetermined form,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the central portion of the switch casing, and

Figure 6 is an elevational view showing the general type of key required for the operation of the switch shown in Figure Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present invention embodies a casing including a pan shaped body .5 and a cove 1925. Serial no. 35,229.

plate 6 for the body secured in place by ears 8 to permit bolting of the switch to a support such as the footboard of a motor vehicle in front of thedrivers seat. l

Fixed contacts 9 are countersunkin the inner surface of the circular rim of the body 5 in opposedrelation and have outwardly projecting threaded studs '10 onto which ordinary battery terminal plugs 11 are secured. The terminal plugs 11 having sockets 12in their outer endsin which the adjacent ends oi feed cable sections may be secured by soldering or the like so that the other ends of said feed cable sections must be freed before the same may be detached from the switch. Suitable means suchas washers andsleeves may be provided for insulating the contact 9, studs 10 and terminal plugs 11 from the casing.

Loosely and rotatably fitted in the body 5 is a disk 18 of conductingmaterial having opposed peripheral spring pressed contacts '14 adapted to simultaneously engage the contacts 9 when the disk is in its circuit position. The contacts 14 are yieldingly urged outwardly in a radial direction by means of a spring 15 disposed in spockets 16 formed in the disks 13.

A barrel 17 is fixed at its lower end in a central opening formed in the cover plate 6, and a cylinder 18 is freely revoluble in this barrel concentric with the axis of rotation of disk 13. The cylinder 18 has a central opening or passage extending therethrough as at 19 coincidentwith an axial opening, 20 in the disk 13. y

Fixed to the inner side of the cover plate 6 at the inner end of the barrel 17 and concentric with the cylinder 18 are a plurality of disks 21 having variously formedcentral apertures of the general character shown with respect to one disk in Figure 4:. As shown in this figure, each disk has a circular central opening 22 the wall of which is formed with a plurality of spaced notches 23. Theopenring 19 of the cylinder 18 and the apertures of disks2l are particularly adaptedto cooperate with'the key havingoppositely projecting lateral. bits 2 L on the shank 25 thereof, the bits being notched in a predetermined manner as at 26 to correspond with the forms of the apertures in the disks 21 so that the key may be inserted sufficiently to permit portions of the bits 24 to pass disks 21 to engage and actuate a swinging locking bolt 27 pivoted to the upper side of disk 13.

The locking bolt is preferably of angular form and pivoted intermediate its ends as at 28 to swing parallel with the plane of disk 13, notches 29 being formed in the innor surface of the rim of the body 5 into one of which the outer end of the bolt may be moved by means of a spring 30 for locking the disk 13 against turning when the contacts 9 are engaged with contacts 14, and into another of which the outer end of said bolt may be moved for the same purpose when the disk 13 is positioned to engage the blocks 31 with the contact 9. The blocks 31 are of insulating material and inlaid in the periphery of the disk 13 so that when the same engages the contacts 9, current cannot pass from one contact 9 to the other. Obviously, the current will pass from one contact 9 to the other through the disk 13 when the contacts 9 are engaged by contacts 14, the latter insuring a good electrical con nection.

The inner end of the bolt 27 is disposed adjacent to the opening 20 so that one of the bits 24 will engage the same for swinging the bolt when the key is rotated for disengaging the outer end of the bolt from the notch 29 whereby the disk 13 may be rotated to turn the switch on or off. The disk 13 has a projection 32 arranged to be engaged by the other bit of the key after the bolt has been released, so that the disk 13 will be turned upon continued rotation or turning of the key.

The disk 13 may also be normally held against turning by means of a polygonal tumbler plug or plate 32 which is normally projected upwardly into a similarly shaped socket 34 of the disk 13 by means of a spring 35 disposed in a further similar socket 36 formed in the bottom of the body 5, the socket 34 being of a depth less than the thickness of the plug 33 so that the lower portion of the latter is also normally positioned in the upper portion of the socket 36. The key shank has an extension 37 adapted to enter the opening 20 and to engage and depress the plug 33 when the key is inserted, whereby the plug is forced entirely out of the socket 34 into the socket 36 against the action of spring 35 prior to turning of the key for rotating the disk 13. As shown, the plug 33 and sockets 34 and 36 are square so that the plug will be seated in the socket 34 to lock the disk 13 against turning when in either circuit opening or circuit closing position.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and ap prcciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oi the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. A lock switch including a casing having opposed internal fixed contacts provided with means to facilitate connection oi conductors thereto externally of the casing, a disk loosely and rotatably fitted in the casing and having opposed electrically connected peripheral contacts arranged to simultaneously engage or disengage said fixed contacts when the disk is turned, and key controlled locking means within the casing for preventing turning of said disk, said casing having notches, and said locking means including a swinging locking bolt pivoted intermediate its ends on the upper side of the disk and having an outer end arranged to engage said notches and an inner end engageable by the bit of the key for releasing the bolt when the key is turned.

2. A lock switch including a casing having opposed internal fixed contacts provided with means to facilitate connection of conductors thereto externally of the casing, a disk loosely and rotatably fitted in thecasing and having opposed electrically connected peripheral contacts arranged to simultaneously engage or disengage said fixed contacts when the disk is turned, and key controlled locking means within the casing for preventing turning of said disk, said casing having notches, and said locking means including a swinging locking bolt pivoted intermediate its ends on the upper side of the disk and having an outer end arranged to engage said notches and an inner end engageable by the bit of the key for releasing the bolt when the key is turned, and an element carried by the disk within the casing engageable by another hit of the key after the latter has released the. locking bolt for transmitting rotation of the key to the disk.

3. A lock switch including a casing having opposed internal fixed contacts provided with means to facilitate connection of conductors thereto externally of the casing, a disk loosely and rotatably fitted in the easing and having opposed electrically connected peripheral contacts arranged to simultaneously engage or disengage said fixed contacts when the disk is turned, and key controlled locking means within the casing for preventing turning of said disk, and a spring pressed tumbler plate cooperating with the bottom of the disk and the casing for additionally locking the disk against turning, said tumbler plate being depressible for its release by an extension of the shank of the key.

4. A lock switch including a casing having opposed internal fixed contacts provided with means to facilitate connection of conductors thereto externally of the casing, a disk loosely and rotatably fitted in the easing and having opposed electrically connected peripheral contacts arranged to simultaneously engage or disengage said fixed contacts when the disk is turned, and key controlled locking means Within the casing for preventing turning of said disk, and

10 means carried by the casing for preventing insertion of a key to actuating relation with the locking means unless said key has a predetermined form, and a barrel carried by the casing and having a revoluble cylinder therein, said last named means comprising a plurality of disks secured within the easing at the inner end of the barrel and having variously formed central openings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DE LEO V. SCHAEFER. 

